ExxonMobil Qatar and Qatar Tennis Federation celebrate Qatar ExxonMobil Open25th Anniversary and 2017 tournament launch at gala dinner

Each year, the gala features a variety of unique activities and performances by world-renowned entertainers. In a special performance for the tournament’s 25th anniversary, famed magician and mentalist Oz Pearlman intrigued the audience with an interactive show. His performance featured a dazzling mind-reading routine and involved the tennis stars to the audience’s amusement.

His Excellency Nasser Al-Khelaifi, President of the Qatar Tennis Federation, and Alistair Routledge, President and General Manager for ExxonMobil Qatar, welcomed guests and spoke about the history of the strong partnership their organizations share; and the people behind the tournament’s success.

“Welcome to the 2017 Qatar ExxonMobil Open. This year is a very important one in the life of our tournament – it’s our 25th Anniversary, and we are thrilled that you are here to celebrate with us,” said Routledge. “This event marks a major milestone in a 25-year journey, one that began with the sowing of some very small but well-selected seeds a quarter of a century ago. Those seeds took root in a relationship between ExxonMobil Qatar and the Qatar Tennis Federation that has now blossomed into a success story that serves as an example of what partnerships can achieve.”

“While we’re all here to watch some incredible tennis, let’s not lose sight of what the Qatar ExxonMobil Open means for the country and its people. It’s one of the many projects Qatar has created for the world to enjoy, and it has contributed significantly to its standing as an international business and investment hub. It is also a wonderful venue for inspiring an appreciation for active lifestyles in the Qatari community – particularly among the youth. I look forward to seeing the many more contributions of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open that lie ahead,” Routledge added.

Tariq Zainal, Secretary General of the Qatar Tennis Federation, said, “It is a great privilege to welcome our fans once again to Doha in the 25th anniversary of this world-class event. The Qatar ExxonMobil Open is a symbol of the strategic and enduring partnership between the energy company ExxonMobil and QTF aimed at taking the sport to higher heights and bringing the community of Qatar the finest tennis and entertainment.”

“As we are about to experience another exciting week of top-level tennis, I would like to appreciate everyone, especially the committees that have worked assiduously to ensure a successful event yet again,” he added.

Thanks to the guidance of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his Qatar National Vision 2030, Qatar continues to thrive as a positive example for the world across numerous fronts. ExxonMobil Qatar remains committed to supporting his vision of a knowledge-based society, and to working hand-in-hand with local partners like the Qatar Tennis Federation to support education, professional workforce development, and active and healthy lifestyles programs within Qatar’s community. These efforts are critical to building a skilled and productive workforce that can sustain Qatar’s bright future.

The Qatar ExxonMobil Open will run from January 2 – 7, 2017, bringing some of the world’s top players together to compete for the trophy and a share of the prize money. Confirmed tournament participants include defending Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2016 champion Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych.

About ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil, the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading inventory of resources, is the largest refiner and marketer of petroleum products, and its chemical company is one of the largest in the world. 
ExxonMobil Qatar Inc. is a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation and is the interface point within Qatar for all ExxonMobil affiliated activities.